Charm Sizes: Dangle, Bead and Italian Charms, and Choosing a Charm Bracelet Size
For anyone building a charm bracelet or adding charms to a necklace: the sizes charms come in, how much room they take, and how long the bracelet must be to carry them comfortably.
Most dangle charms are 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 in) tall, and bead charms for snake-chain bracelets are about 10 to 12 mm across. Charms take up room inside the bracelet, so choose a charm bracelet about 2 cm (0.8 in) longer than your wrist, and one size longer again if you will carry many charms.
- Dangle charms
- 10-20 mm tall
- Bead charms
- 10-12 mm across
- Bracelet length
- Wrist + 2 cm
- Italian link
- 9 mm wide
On this page
Charm size chart
A charm's listed size is usually its height including the loop or bail, with its width given second. Bead charms are listed by outside diameter and by width along the bracelet.
| Charm type | Typical size | Inches | Attaches with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini dangle | 5 to 8 mm | 0.2 to 0.3 in | Small jump ring; layered necklaces, earrings |
| Small dangle | 8 to 12 mm | 0.3 to 0.5 in | Jump ring or clasp |
| Standard dangle | 12 to 20 mm | 0.5 to 0.8 in | Jump ring or lobster clasp |
| Large dangle | 20 to 30 mm | 0.8 to 1.2 in | Clasp; often worn alone as a pendant |
| Bead (slide-on) charm | About 10 to 12 mm diameter, 6 to 10 mm wide | 0.4 to 0.5 in | Threads onto a snake-chain bracelet |
| Clip or stopper | About 8 to 10 mm, often wider | 0.3 to 0.4 in | Clamps onto a threaded section |
| Italian charm link | 9 mm wide (classic); about 13 mm (larger format) | 0.35 in / 0.5 in | Replaces a link in a modular bracelet |
For pieces above about 25 mm, the line between a charm and a pendant blurs. Larger pieces and how they sit on a chain are covered in the pendant size guide.
Choosing a charm bracelet size
Charms hang inside the curve of the bracelet and press against the wrist, so a charm bracelet needs more length than a plain one. Pandora's guidance is to measure the wrist and add 2 cm (0.8 in), then go up a size if you will wear more than five charms.
| Wrist | Bead charm bracelet | Dangle charm bracelet |
|---|---|---|
| 14 cm (5.5 in) | 16 cm (6.3 in) | 16.5 cm (6.5 in) |
| 15 cm (5.9 in) | 17 cm (6.7 in) | 17.5 cm (6.9 in) |
| 16 cm (6.3 in) | 18 cm (7.1 in) | 18.5 cm (7.3 in) |
| 17 cm (6.7 in) | 19 cm (7.5 in) | 19.5 cm (7.7 in) |
| 18 cm (7.1 in) | 20 cm (7.9 in) | 20.5 cm (8.1 in) |
| 19 cm (7.5 in) | 21 cm (8.3 in) | 21.5 cm (8.5 in) |
The dangle column adds 2.5 cm (1 in) to the wrist, the loose-fit allowance from the bracelet size chart, because dangles need room to swing. Some bead bracelet ranges come only in odd sizes, such as 15, 17, 19 and 21 cm; if your result falls between, take the larger one.
For a charm bracelet, measure the wrist snugly with a soft tape just above the wrist bone. The 2 cm allowance assumes a snug measurement; adding it to a loose measurement makes the bracelet slide onto the hand.
How many charms fit on a bracelet
The estimates below assume a clasp of about 1.5 cm, an average bead charm 8 mm wide, and about 2.5 cm left empty so the charms can move around the curve. Wider charms and clips reduce the count.
| Bracelet length | Usable chain | Bead charms when full |
|---|---|---|
| 17 cm (6.7 in) | About 13 cm | About 16 |
| 19 cm (7.5 in) | About 15 cm | About 18 to 19 |
| 21 cm (8.3 in) | About 17 cm | About 21 |
For dangle charms on a link bracelet, spacing matters more than length. One charm every 1.5 to 2 cm (one per one or two links on a typical charm chain) lets each charm hang freely, which gives about 8 to 10 charms on a 7 in (17.8 cm) bracelet, after allowing for the clasp. Closer spacing makes the charms tangle and clatter.
Each metal bead charm weighs a few grams, so a full bracelet adds up to tens of grams on the wrist. Many people split a large collection across two bracelets, or move some charms to a necklace.
Jump rings and attachments
| Outside diameter | Wire gauge | Wire thickness | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 mm | 22 to 20 gauge | 0.64 to 0.81 mm | Tiny charms on fine necklaces and earrings |
| 5 to 6 mm | 20 to 18 gauge | 0.81 to 1.02 mm | Standard charms on link bracelets |
| 7 to 8 mm | 18 to 16 gauge | 1.02 to 1.29 mm | Large charms; heavy rolo or curb links |
The inside of the ring must pass around the bracelet's link wire with room to swing. Open jump rings can pull apart under a heavy charm; soldered rings or lobster-clasp charm holders are more secure for valuable charms.
- Check the link opening of the bracelet: a jump ring or charm clasp needs an opening at least as large as its wire.
- Check the charm's own loop, which must pass the jump ring wire.
- Open rings sideways, twisting the ends apart, not pulling them outward, so the ring closes back into a true circle.
Charms on necklaces, bangles and anklets
- Necklaces: one to three charms of 8 to 15 mm on a 16 to 18 in fine chain is the usual charm necklace. Larger groups look best on a 20 in or longer chain; see chain sizes.
- Bangles: charm bangles with a screw-off end take bead charms. Because a bangle is sized by the hand, charms reduce the clearance as it passes the knuckles; see bangle sizes.
- Anklets: small charms and bells of 6 to 12 mm suit anklets. Add about 0.25 to 0.5 in to the anklet length; see anklet sizes.
When a charm bracelet stops fitting
- Buying the bracelet to wrist size. A charm bracelet bought at wrist size plus 1 cm becomes tight once a few charms are on it.
- Assuming all bead charms fit all bracelets. Core openings and thread designs differ between brands.
- Mixing heavy and light charms side by side; the heavy one pulls the bracelet so the clasp rotates to the top.
- Storing charm bracelets in a pile. Charms scratch each other. A flat tray or a bracelet bar in a jewelry box keeps them apart.
Frequently asked questions
How many charms can go on a charm bracelet?
A bead-style bracelet of 19 cm holds roughly 15 to 20 bead charms when full, depending on charm width, with a small gap left so the bracelet moves. A 7 in link bracelet holds about 8 to 10 dangle charms spaced one every 1.5 to 2 cm. Fewer charms often look better and wear more comfortably.
What size charm bracelet should I get?
Measure your wrist snugly and add 2 cm (0.8 in). For a 16 cm wrist, choose an 18 cm bracelet; if the brand's sizes are odd numbers only, go up to the next size. If you plan to wear more than about five bead charms, or large dangles, go one size longer.
Do Pandora charms fit other bracelets?
Pandora charms fit Pandora bracelets and many other snake-chain bead bracelets made to a similar 3 mm chain with threaded or grooved sections. Fit depends on the thread and the clasp, so check the bracelet maker's compatibility notes.
What size jump ring do I need for a charm?
Most charms hang on jump rings of 4 to 6 mm outside diameter made from 20 or 18 gauge wire (0.81 or 1.02 mm). The ring must be large enough to pass around the bracelet link; for chunky link bracelets use 6 to 8 mm rings.
Are charms safe for children's bracelets?
Small charms are choking hazards for children under 3, and loose charms can come off. For older children, choose soldered jump rings or charms fixed to the bracelet and check them regularly.